Work Experience  R-7421 

7400     PROGRAM EXTENSIONS
7420     Ancillary Programs                                                                         

Regulation - 7000 Instruction || Table of Contents || Back || Next 

1.0 Type of Cooperative Work Experience Education (Title 5, 55252)

1.1 Cooperative Work Experience Education (CWEE) is a program of education consisting of the following types:

1.1.1 Occupational Work Experience Education is supervised employment extending classroom-based occupational learning at an on-the-job learning station relating to the student's educational or occupational goal for which his/her college program has been designed.

1.1.2 General Work Experience Education is supervised employment intended to assist students in acquiring desirable work habits, attitudes and career awareness. The work experience need not be related to the student's educational goals.

2.0 Organizational Plans

2.1 Alternate Plan. A form of cooperative work experience designed to offer students the opportunity to attend school and work alternately, as stipulated in the district plan.

2.1.1 Students enrolled in General and Occupational Cooperative Work Experience students may enroll in CWEE only or in CWEE and one other class.

2.1.2 Students cannot enroll in more than one other class during the summer session while participating in the work portion of the Alternate Plan.

2.2 Parallel Plan. A form of cooperative work experience designed to offer students the opportunity to attend classes and earn college credit for concurrent learning on the job, as specified in the district plan.

2.2.1 Students enrolled in the Parallel Plan in both General and Occupational Work Experience Education will enroll in at least one course in addition to Cooperative Work Experience in the summer session.

3.0 College Credit (Title 5, 55253)

3.1 The District shall grant credit to students enrolled in CWEE subject to the following limitations:

3.1.1 General CWEE:

3.1.1.1 Parallel Plan: Students may enroll in no more than three (3) semester credit hours with a maximum total of six (6) semester credit hours, during the student's enrollment in any community college.

3.1.1.2 Alternate Plan: Students may enroll in a maximum of six (6) semester credit hours during the student's enrollment in any community college. Students may not be enrolled in more than one other class during the semester of work experience.

3.1.2 Occupational CWEE:

3.1.2.1 Parallel Plan: No more than four (4) semester credit hours, with a maximum total of sixteen (16) semester credit hours, during the student's enrollment in any community college.

3.1.2.2 Alternate Plan: Students may enroll in up to eight (8) semester credit hours during the student's enrollment in any community college Students may not be enrolled in more than one other class during the semester of work experience.

3.1.3 The following formula will be used to determine the number of units to be awarded:

3.1.3.1 Each 75 hours of paid work equals one semester credit.

3.1.3.2. Each 60 hours of non-paid work equals one semester credit.

4.0 Student Qualifications (Title 5, 55254)

4.1 In order to participate in CWEE students shall meet the following requirements:

4.1.1 Pursue a planned program of CWEE which, in the opinion of the Coordinator, includes new or expanded responsibilities or learning opportunities beyond those experienced during previous employment; AND

4.1.2 Have on-the-job experience that contributes to their occupational or educational goals; AND

4.1.3 Have the approval of the CWEE Coordinator; AND

4.1.4 One of the following:

4.1.4.1 Be legally indentured or certified apprentices enrolled in related or supplementary courses required of the apprentice programs. Community college districts may grant units of credit for CWEE consistent with provisions of this regulation; or

4.1.4.2 Meet the following condition if self-employed:

Identify a person who is approved by the instructor to serve as the designated employer representative. This representative shall agree to accept the following employer responsibilities:

a. Assist the student in identifying new or expanded on-the-job meaningful and measurable learning objectives.
b. Assist in the evaluation of the student's identified learning objectives
c. Validate hours worked.

4.1.4.3 Be enrolled in the Parallel Plan for seven (7) units or more including Work Experience. Enrollment in an accredited secondary through four-year institution or equivalent course work may meet this requirement. Students enrolled in Summer Session will enroll in at least one other class in addition to Cooperative Work Experience; or

4.1.4.4 Be enrolled in the Alternate Semester Plan.

5.0 Records (Title 5, 55256)

5.1 The Colleges shall maintain student records which shall include:

5.1.1 The type of Cooperative Work Experience in which the student is enrolled, where employed, and the type of job held;

5.1.2 The work permit issued, if applicable;

5.1.3 A learning objective agreement with written, measurable, learning objectives signed by the student, employer, and Coordinator;

5.1.4 The employer's report of student CWEE hours worked and performance evaluations;

5.1.5 Documentation by certificated staff of consultations with the student;

5.1.6 Documentation by certificated staff of consultations with employers;

5.1.7 Written evaluation by certificated staff of each student, including grade.

5.2 Records of attendance will be maintained by the Colleges that reflect:

5.2.1. No more than one student contact hour counted for each unit of work experience credit in which a student was enrolled during any census period.

5.2.3 No duplicate student contact hours be counted for any classroom instruction and Cooperative Work Experience.

5.2.4 Maximum contact hours counted for a student not in excess of the maximum cooperative work experience units for which the student may be granted credit as described in Section 3.0.

6.0 Responsibilities of the College, Employer, Student and District

6.1 Responsibilities of the College are to:

6.1.1 Register students in the appropriate CWEE program. The prerequisite for a specific CWEE program is as written in the College catalogs.

6.1.2 Provide Coordinators time to maintain and promote the program in the following manner:

6.1.2.1 Develop contacts with business, industry and governmental agencies for potential training stations;

6.1.2.2 Maintain good public relations through the media and by speaking to civic, educational, governmental, and service organizations;

6.1.2.3 Introduce instructors to key personnel within business, industry and governmental agencies;

6.1.2.4 Work closely with the college counseling/career center/placement staff;

6.1.2.5 Maintain liaison with the faculty and administration through committee participation;

6.1.2.6 Handle student and instructor appeals related to CWEE;

6.1.2.7 Administer the CWEE budget;

6.1.2.8 Select and work with advisory committees;

6.1.2.9 Maintain liaison with high schools so they will be aware of the CWEE;

6.1.2.10 Provide appropriate and continuous guidance service for students throughout their enrollment in CWEE;

6.1.2.11 Provide supervision of students as outlined in a learning objective agreement signed by the employer, the Coordinator and/or instructor and the student;

6.1.2.12 Require a student program application through the Coordinator and/or instructor so they may be screened for eligibility and given permission to enroll in the appropriate Cooperative Work Experience program;

6.1.2.13 Have the Coordinator and/or instructor meet individually with students to discuss and approve the learning objectives for the semester that have been worked out with employers;

6.1.2.14 Schedule a weekly coordinating class or seminars, if desired, to offer human relations information to the students;

 6.1.2.15 Provide referral to and/or coordination with counseling, career center, and other student services staff as needed through the Coordinator;

6.1.2.16 Provide two (2) written employer evaluations, in addition to the in-person consultation with the employer, to assist the Coordinator in providing continuous guidance to the student while in the program;

6.1.2.17 Assure that work done by students is of a useful, educational nature.

6.1.2.17.1 Individual student learning objectives identifying new or expanded learning will be agreed upon by employer, Coordinator and/or instructor and student.

6.1.2.17.2 Employer evaluations on these specific objectives at the end of the semester will assure that work done by students is both useful and educational.

6.1.2.18 Evaluate, with advice of employers, work done by students and award grade and credit for successful accomplishment each semester

6.1.2.18.1 Coordinator and/or instructor will consult with employers in person to assess student progress on the job;

6.1.2.18.2 Coordinator and or instructor will receive written overall evaluation of students from employers, as well as the rating on specific learning objectives set forth for the semester;

 6.1.2.18.3 Coordinator and/or instructor will award grade and appropriate units earned.

 6.1.2.19 Evaluate the CWEE Program from the standpoint of staff preparation, training, performance and morale; administrative and faculty support; effectiveness of the instructor services; and adequacy of physical personnel facilities and personnel.

6.1.3 Provide Coordinators with reasonable assigned time in terms of weekly student contact hours to consult with students, consult in person with employers at least once each semester, and teach the coordinating class;

6.1.4 Assign adequate clerical time to maintain records as outlined in Section 5;

6.1.5 To provide financial support to include supplies and equipment; necessary travel expenses required for coordination; and professional development for Coordinators;:

6.1.6 To provide guidance and counseling for students for admission to the program and subsequent follow-up guidance in relation to problems on the job and

6.1.7 To provide the student, instructor and employer with an agreement that to recognizes the District's liability for non-paid internships.

6.2 Responsibilities of the student are to:

6.2.1 Attend required class instruction, group seminars, and individual conferences called by the Coordinator and/or the instructor;

6.2.2 Notify the Coordinator and/or the instructor of any changes of job, supervisor, or work hours;

6.2.3 Return signed learning objective agreement and the volunteer internship agreement when applicable;

6.2.4 Report hours worked;

6.2.5 Consult the Coordinator and/or the instructor concerning job-related problems.

6.3 Responsibilities of the employer are to:

6.3.1 Agree with the intent and purposes of CWEE for students and secure a copy of each student's approved on-the-job measurable learning objectives;

6.3.2 Provide a reasonable probability of continuous work experience for students during the current Work Experience enrollment period;.

6.3.3 Provide adequate supervision, facilities, equipment and materials at the learning stations to achieve on-the-job measurable learning objectives;

6.3.4 Comply with all appropriate federal and state employment regulations; and

6.3.5 Complete the following activities:

6.3.5.1 Assist students to define ways they can learn on the job. These learning objectives will be written by the student and approved by the instructor;

6.3.5.2 Sign the Learning Objective Agreement form at the beginning of the work experience activity;

6.3.5.3 Evaluate learning objectives at the end of the work experience activity;

6.3.5.4 Evaluate the student on the Supervisor's Evaluation form provided by the college;

6.3.5.5 Meet with the instructor at the employer's place of business once each semester;

6.3.5.6 Sign a time sheet verifying the student's hours worked; and

6.3.5.7 Sign the non-paid Internship Agreement when applicable.

 6.4 Responsibilities of the District are to:

6.4.1 Provide a sufficient number of qualified, certificated personnel to direct the program. Qualified adjunct faculty may be hired from other institutions to develop the learning contracts and make the "in-person" consultation for a student who is out of a colleges geographical region, state, or in another country.

6.4.1.1 All certificated coordination staff will meet the State Plan for Vocational Education.

6.4.1.2 Student load for Coordinators will be based on the average weekly student contact hours carried by other instructors within the District. This Coordinator load will include consultation in person with employers at least once during the semester and with students as often as needed, and the teaching of a coordinating class or seminars, if offered as a part of the program. Necessary certificated staff will be provided on each College campus for overall program coordination and job development and development of internships, and for initiating and maintaining on the-job learning stations.

6.4.1.3 When entering into contracts with Joint Apprenticeship Councils to provide apprenticeship training, the Los Rios District may delegate CWEE coordination/supervision activities to the Joint Apprenticeship Council per Title 5 of the California Administrative Code.